Gastric Balloon

What is a gastric balloon?

A gastric balloon is a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical tool used in the treatment of obesity. In conjunction with a supervised diet it can help you achieve the health and aesthetic benefits associated with weight loss.

The balloon system consists of a soft, expandable balloon, a placement tube and a filling system. The surgeon inserts the balloon orally and then expands it with sterile saline fluid once it is placed in your stomach. When full, the balloon is too large to pass into the bowel and will now float freely in your stomach.

Is a gastric balloon suitable for me?

The gastric balloon procedure may be particularly useful for people considered too overweight to undergo vital surgery. The use of the balloon to successfully reduce weight prior to surgery can also help to reduce the risks associated with surgical procedures on overweight patients.

If the operation is a success, you should be able to achieve long-term weight loss. However this depends on your ability to keep to your new lifestyle.
Long-term weight loss should improve any obesity-related health problems you may have, such as:

Diabetes

Hypertension (raised blood pressure)

Sleep apnoea

Mobility

Self-esteem.

The simple approach to losing weight involves eating less, improving your diet and doing more exercise. Sometimes medication prescribed by your GP can help.
There are also other surgical options to gastric balloons, such as shortening your digestive tract, called a sleeve gastrectomy; by-passing your stomach and part of your intestinal tract with agastric bypass or gastric banding which create a small pouch at the top of the stomach that limits the quantity of food than can be consumed. All of these are major surgical procedures that normally involve a hospital stay. However the balloon has fewer complications in installation and there is a lower risk of serious complications. Recovery in the more invasive procedures is also usually slower.

What does the gastric balloon operation involve?

Gastric balloon installation

The gastric balloon is introduced into the stomach through the mouth. Your surgeon will perform an initial examination of your stomach using an endoscopic camera. If no abnormalities are observed, your surgeon will proceed with placement of the balloon through your mouth and down Your oesophagus into your stomach. The balloon is made of a soft and pliable silicone elastomer material and is inserted while in its smallest, deflated form. The swallowing process is made easier with the help of a throat spray which numbs the throat area. Muscle relaxing medications are also used.

Once the balloon is inside your stomach, it is immediately filled with sterile saline through a small filling tube (catheter) attached to the balloon. Once filled, your surgeon will remove the catheter by gently pulling on the external end. The balloon has a self-sealing valve, and at this point the balloon is floating freely in your stomach.
Placement times vary, but it will usually take 20-30 minutes, after which you will be monitored by the weight loss surgeon for a short time and then may return home.

How long Is the gastric balloon left in place?

General complications of any minimally invasive procedure may include:

Pain

Minor bleeding

Nausea and vomiting.

A feeling of imbalance similar to sea sickness

Gastric discomfort, nausea and vomiting are common for the first few days following balloon placement

A feeling of heaviness in your abdomen

Abdominal or back pain

Gastro–oesophageal reflux or indigestion may also occur

There is a theoretical (and rare) risk that the balloon could rupture. In this case it would usually pass through the bowel and be expelled naturally.

How soon will I recover from the gastric balloon procedure?

You should be able to return to work after one to two days depending on how you stomach adjusts to having a foreign object present. Sometimes the balloon causes nausea but this will normally subside in a day or two.

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